Winner crowned in Cutest Pet Contest

HAZARD –The votes have been tallied for the Herald’s annual Cutest Pet Contest, and the paper’s staff want to congratulate Michelle Johnson of Hazard for her winning entry and thank everyone who participated this year.

Michelle’s chinchilla, named Daisy, garnered 2,586 total votes on the Herald’s website at www.hazard-herald.com.

Michelle said she and her family got Daisy about seven or eight months ago, and since then she’s grown to be a part of their family. She added that they chose a chinchilla because her family and has always liked different kinds of animals.

“She’s just like one of the kids to us,” she said. “She’s family.”

Daisy was one of 97 total pets entered in this year’s contest. That marks the largest number of participants since the Herald began hosting the contest, which this year was sponsored by Town & Country Animal Clinic.

For her first prize entry, Michelle will win a cash prize of $50. All votes made during the contest’s voting period were cast online by the Herald’s readers.